Youth Confab: Tinubu demands action, orders ministries to set implementation timelines

Tinubu said the recommendations must not become another government report gathering dust on shelves, insisting that the conference must produce measurable results that address the challenges confronting young Nigerians.

The President gave the directive on Monday at the closing ceremony of the 2026 National Youth Conference in Abuja.

His address was delivered by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

He said the implementation framework must identify clear priorities, assign responsibilities, establish realistic timelines and provide measurable indicators of progress.

Tinubu also directed that young people should remain actively involved in implementing and monitoring the recommendations, stressing that their participation must not end with deliberations at the conference.

“You must not be invited to the table only when decisions are being discussed. You must also have a place at the table when those decisions are being implemented,” he said.

The President said the conference was organised to provide a national platform for young Nigerians to express their views, engage constructively and contribute directly to decisions shaping their future.

He said he was pleased with the quality of ideas, enthusiasm, courage and sense of responsibility demonstrated by participants during the conference.

Tinubu added that the contributions of young Nigerians had reinforced his conviction that they were not merely leaders of tomorrow but important partners in shaping the country’s present and future.

“My dear young Nigerians, when we conceived this National Youth Conference, our intention was clear. We wanted to create a national platform where young Nigerians could speak freely, engage constructively and contribute directly to the decisions that shape their future,” he said.

The President acknowledged the challenges confronting young people, including unemployment, rising cost of living, limited access to education, difficulties in securing business start-up capital and insecurity in their communities.

He said young Nigerians deserved a country where hard work was rewarded, talent recognised and opportunities were not determined by personal connections or geographical background.

“These are legitimate expectations. They are expectations that government has a responsibility to address,” he said.

Tinubu said his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda was designed to build an economy that creates opportunities, rewards enterprise and gives every Nigerian a fair chance to succeed.

He acknowledged that economic reforms had involved difficult decisions and sacrifices but maintained that young people deserved to see the benefits of those reforms translated into tangible opportunities.

He listed the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Three Million Technical Talent programme, YouthCred and Nigerian Youth Academy among initiatives introduced by his administration to remove barriers and create opportunities for young Nigerians.

He, however, promised to do more to ensure that skills acquisition leads to employment, innovation attracts investment and young entrepreneurs have continued access to finance.

“We will ensure that training leads to opportunities. That innovation attracts investment. That young entrepreneurs can continue to access finance, and that a young Nigerian with talent and determination can succeed, regardless of background or location,” he said.

The President further stressed the need to ensure that young women, persons with disabilities and those living in rural communities were included in government programmes.

“No young Nigerian should be left behind,” he declared.

Tinubu urged young Nigerians to use their creativity, platforms and influence to promote national development, participate actively in democratic processes and challenge wrongdoing responsibly.

He also warned against allowing ethnic, religious and political differences to undermine national unity.

“Let us never allow our differences in ethnicity, religion or political opinion to become barriers to our common destiny. We may come from different backgrounds, but we share one country and one future,” he said.

The President commended the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, led by Ayodele Olawande, the conference Planning Committee and other stakeholders for organising the gathering.

He also congratulated participants who took part in virtual consultations and physical deliberations, describing their contributions as evidence of young Nigerians’ willingness to engage in shaping the country’s future.

Tinubu said the end of the conference should mark the beginning of a stronger partnership between government and young people, built on trust, responsibility, opportunities and measurable results.

The 2026 National Youth Conference was convened to provide young Nigerians with an opportunity to discuss national challenges and make recommendations on policies and programmes affecting their future.

The President formally declared the conference closed, urging participants to return to their communities with the spirit of dialogue, cooperation and national service.